The curriculum of the Master of Arts degree in Theology and Christian Ministry is designed to provide sound graduate-level education in Catholic theology that will prepare the student for effective ministry and/or further graduate study in a variety of fields. At the Master’s level, we believe it is important to provide a firm, orthodox understanding of Catholic theology, along with a broad range of elective courses that will expose students to a number of different areas of ministry and study of the Christian faith. This formation would serve as the foundations for those who wish to specialize in a particular field of ministry or academic study.
Background Courses
Ideally, students entering the program should have a BA in theology of religious studies from an accredited college or university. However, students respond to God's call to serve the church from many different backgrounds and, thus, may enter the program without prior training in theology. When this is the case, additional courses will be required for that student's individual academic program.
Students who have no background in theology and who do not wish to pursue the RIT or the Catechetics specialization, will take the following two background courses before beginning graduate courses:
THE 510 Word of God: Scripture and Tradition 3
THE 519 Theology of the Church and Sacraments 3.
Students who have the full array of background courses (or equivalent) will not be permitted to take THE 600: Philosophy for Theology, THE 606: Dogmatic Theology I, THE 607: Dogmatic Theology II, THE 608: Dogmatic Theology III, THE 611: Interpreting the Old Testament, THE 612: Interpreting the New Testament, and THE 615: Moral Theology.
General Requirements
In order to provide a formation that affords a general mastery in sacred theology, we require MA students who do not have undergraduate background in theology and philosophy to complete the following courses:
| THE 600 | Philosophy for Theology | 3 |
| THE 606 | Dogmatic Theology I: Trinity, Christology, and Soteriology | 3 |
| THE 607 | Dogmatic Theology II: Church, Sacraments | 3 |
| THE 608 | Dogmatic Theology III: Christian Anthropology, Eschatology, Mariology | 3 |
| THE 611 | Interpreting the Old Testament | 3 |
| THE 612 | Interpreting the New Testament | 3 |
| THE 613 | Church History | 3 |
| THE 614 | The Church in the Modern World | 3 |
| THE 615 | Moral Theology | 3 |
| THE 618 | Fundamental Theology | 3 |
Students will also take between two and seven graduate elective courses. These courses are divided into two categories: those with a theological emphasis (700-level courses) and those focusing on the pastoral application of theology (pastoral emphasis, courses numbered 630 and above). Master’s students in theology must maintain a B average or above (3.0 QPA) to continue in the program.
If a student receives a C+ or below in a graduate course, this course will not count toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. The student must achieve a B- or better in all required (that is non-elective) graduate courses otherwise that particular required graduate course must be repeated and a grade of B- be achieved. For the two elective graduate courses in the MA in Theology and Christian Ministry program, the student may elect not to repeat a course that falls below the required standard (at least a B-). If the course is repeated and a higher grade is attained, this grade will replace the previous grade on the student’s transcript. If the course is not repeated, the grade for the course will be calculated as part of the student’s cumulative QPA and another course must be taken (with a grade of at least a B-) to fulfill the degree requirement of 36 total credit hours (or 42 hours for the catechetics specialization).
The final curriculum requirement for the MA degree in Theology and Christian Ministry is a comprehensive examination, which each student will take at the end of the program after completion of 12 courses (36 credit hours). The examination will test the overall comprehension of the content of the specific courses each student has taken in the program and the student’s ability to apply this knowledge creatively to various areas of Christian ministry and scholarship. The comprehensive examination is administered a number of times each year at Franciscan University, or is proctored at off-campus sites for those obtaining the degree through our online MA program, Distance Learning, or in special circumstances.
Successful completion of 36 credit hours (12 courses), and the comprehensive examination are required for graduation. For all MA students who are not in the online or distance learning MA Theology program, the minimum time required for residency at the University is one full academic year. It is possible to complete the degree by attending six summer sessions. However, in order to ensure continuity in the student’s education, on-campus students must complete the degree within seven years from the beginning of course work, and online MA and distance learning students must complete the degree within ten years from the beginning of course work. If a student transfers from distance learning to on-campus or vice-versa, the time limit is reckoned from the date of original matriculation, not the date of transfer.
Catechetics Specialization
The Theology Department of Franciscan University of Steubenville now offers a specialization in Catechetics that leads to certification within its Master’s program in Theology and Christian Ministry. This specialization provides professional catechetical training for those “who, imbued with an apostolic spirit, make an outstanding and absolutely necessary contribution to the spread of the faith and the Church by their great work” (Ad Gentes Divinitus, No. 17). This is only available for students in the on-ground program.
The mission of Franciscan University is to prepare young men and women for leadership in our society and in the Church. In accord with that mission the Theology Department offers this specialization to train professional Catechetical leaders who will join the Church's apostolate in diocesan offices, parishes, and schools across the country. Future Catholic high school teachers, RCIA directors, coordinators or directors of religious education, directors of youth ministry, pastoral ministers, family ministers, and sacramental preparation specialists will find this program invaluable.
The catechetics specialization rounds out an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry by providing practical knowledge and experience. St. Francis heard the call, “Go, and rebuild my Church.” This specialization will help anyone who hears and wants to respond to the same call.
Background Courses
Students in the Catechetics specialization are required to have the following undergraduate background courses, either completed before admission or to be taken immediately upon admission:
- Philosophical Anthropology (PHL 513: Philosophy of the Human Person)
- Metaphysics (PHL 511: Metaphysics)
- Catechetics (CAT 517: Catechetics)
- Old Testament Course (THE 511: Principles of Biblical Study I)
- New Testament Course (THE 512: Principles of Biblical Study II)
- Moral Theology (THE 515: Christian Moral Principles)
- Christology (THE 513: Theology of Christ)
- Ecclesiology (THE 514: Theology of the Church)
- Theology of the Sacraments (THE 516: Sacraments)
Students must complete the background courses before they can take graduate courses, unless the required background credit hours do not equal a full load (15 credits), in which case the student may take background courses and graduate courses in the same semester. For full-time students, background courses must be completed within the first two semesters of course work.
Required Catechetics Courses
The specialization in Catechetics is to be sought in conjunction with the MA degree. To qualify, the student must accumulate 42 credit hours. In addition to the courses required of all graduate theology students, along with two electives, five additional courses will be required (each course is three credit hours):
| THE 641 | Catechesis: Content and Curriculum | 3 |
| THE 691 | Catechetical Methods I | 3 |
| THE 692 | Catechetical Methods II | 3 |
| THE 694 | Catechetical Practice Today | 3 |
| THE 780 | Scripture, the Heart of Catechesis | 3 |
THE 641 and THE 780: These may be elected by non-catechetical specialization students.
Catechetics Electives
The specialization is completed with one of the following seven courses (each course is three credit hours):
THE 693 and THE 804 may be elected by non-catechetical specialization students.
In addition, an exit presentation must be done in the final semester of the program for the Catechetics Specialization. This is a one and a half hour professional presentation on some aspect of the catechetical endeavor. The student chooses the topic. The presentation must reflect a mastery and and synthesis of the Catechetical magisterial materials and a sense of the reality of the catechetical situation. It is pass/fail.
In addition, an exit presentation must be done in the final semester of the program for the Catechetics Specialization. This is a one-and-a-half-hour professional presentation on some aspect of the catechetical endeavor. The student chooses the topic. The presentation must reflect a mastery and synthesis of the Catechetical magisterial materials and a sense of the reality of the catechetical situation. It is pass/fail.
Research Intensive Track
The Research Intensive Track (RIT) is designed to form students specifically in those skills necessary for graduate study at the doctoral level. The Research Intensive Track (36 credits) strikes a balance between broad formation in the basic theological disciplines and specialization in one of these disciplines in view of further study. Students must apply for admission to the RIT.
Students on the Research Intensive Track have a research requirement in addition to that required of every Master's student. The track's additional research requirement may be fulfilled in one of three ways: a 3 credit thesis; the presentation of two papers at approved academic conferences; or the acceptance of one paper for publication at a peer-reviewed academic journal. The thesis will be completed in the last semester of course work, and in order to register for the thesis, the student together with the thesis director must agree on a suitable topic by the end of the student's second to last semester.
Please see the Research Intensive Track Manual for more detailed information on these.
RIT Background Requirements
RIT students are required to have the following background courses, either completed before admission or to be taken immediately upon admission: Philosophical anthropology, Metaphysics, Old Testament, New Testament, Christology, Ecclesiology, Moral Theology, Ecclesiology
In the case of a student who has some but no all of the background courses, the MA director will determine which background courses must be taken. Students must complete the background courses before they can take graduate courses, unless the required background credit hours do not equal a full load (15 credits), in which case the student may take background courses and graduate courses in the same semester. For full-time students background courses must be completed with the first two semesters of course work.
RIT Course Requirements
On the graduate level, each RIT student must take the five courses required of all MA students who have undergraduate background:
THE 613 Church History 3
THE 614 The Church in the Modern World 3
THE 618 Fundamental Theology 3
THE 619 Biblical Hermeneutics 3
THE 715 Advanced Moral Theology 3
One course on the Old Testament:
One course on the New Testament:
One historical course: any THE 722 (Fathers and Doctors of the Church) , THE 660 (Augustine the Catechist), THE 733: Tradition and the Development of Doctrine, or another approved course:
| THE 660 | Pastoral Issues | 3 |
| OR | |
| THE 722 | Fathers and Doctors of the Church | 3 |
| OR | |
| THE 733 | Tradition and the Development of Doctrine | 3 |
One systematic course and THE 731 or THE 740
In addition, RIT students must demonstrate, by written examination, reading knowledge of two foreign languages: 1. Greek, Latin or Hebrew; and 2. either French or German.